Updated 01.06 | Published 01.00
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SKELLEFTEÅ. Linus Söderström won his second SM gold on the day, seven years after the first triumph.
After becoming Swedish champion in their first SHL season, it has been a long road back to the top.
– It was really tough and I didn’t really know if I would be able to play again, says the 27-year-old goalkeeper.
Just as with HV71 in the spring of 2017, Linus Söderström was now one of the biggest gold heroes in Skellefteå.
Afterwards, he walked around the locker room enjoying himself with his gear on, a beer in his hand and the gold colored sunglasses on his eyes.
It felt like the first time he dropped something in these playoffs when a beer went on the floor and teammates splashed beer over him.
– Yummy, yum, yum, yum, yum. I smell strong beer. You know, here we fly regional and drink beer. No scum here, but we are happy, we are satisfied, says Linus Söderström.
When he sits down in his seat, his voice occasionally stutters and tear-filled eyes peek out from behind his glasses.
– On this day seven years ago when I had the opportunity to win with HV71, as a person I was young and inexperienced. I remember that I didn’t enjoy it enough and turned the page so quickly, says Linus Söderström.
“Deep deep deep valleys”
The season after that in HV71 there were only 14 games, then followed two seasons in North America where there were only four games in the Worcester Railers of the ECHL (farmers’ league).
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1 / 2Photo: Pontus Orre
He restarted with two seasons in Finnish Ässet before coming to Skellefteå for last season.
– These seven years have been deep, deep, deep valleys and high peaks. I entered the first year and I kind of won, but it’s so hard to go all the way and win. I’ve felt bad that I never really enjoyed it. I have promised myself that I will take advantage of this, says Linus Söderström.
How hard was it down in these valleys that you yourself tell about?
– It was probably around 2020 and 2021 or 2019. There were a lot of injuries, it was really tough and I didn’t really know if I would be able to play again. I had good people around me from that day until today. It is my family and my coaches who have made this possible. In the darkest moments, the light in the tunnel was exactly what I got to be a part of in HV71 and win. It was the last line I was standing on in terms of motivation. To be champion again and win, to experience this again is sick. I’m so fucking grateful.
“Knife that sat deep in me”
Linus Söderström was also awarded the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy as the SM finals’ most valuable player, in 2017 it was Simon Önerud who received the award.
– It means a lot whose name is on it in the form of Stefan Liv. He was the best when it came to that. It is one of the most honorable awards to receive in Swedish sports. I’ll just sit down here and do a little evaluation later, when all the partying is over, says Linus Söderström.
Last season there was a 4-0 final loss in matches against Växjö, when it was the opposing goalkeeper Emil Larmi who received the Stefan Liv Memorial Trophy.
– I think a lot about last year when we lost and if I took the shots as I should. Did I take any extra? Yes. But was I a game changer? No, but it was the Finnish goalkeeper on the other side who was. It is a knife that has been deeply embedded in me. To win with this wonderful group and receive such an honorable award. Finally, I can take out that knife that has been sitting in me for a year now. It’s a feeling I absolutely cannot put into words, says Linus Söderström.
“Best teammate I’ve had”
Now how are you going to take advantage of this success and enjoy it in the best possible way?
– I’m just going to live in the present, as I’ve wanted to do for the past few months here. I will, but I will only allow myself to be. I don’t have to think about sleep, diet and so on.
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full screen Photo: Ola Westerberg / Bildbyrån
Fellow goalkeeper Gustaf Lindvall says that Linus Söderström is the best goalkeeper he has seen.
Gustaf Lindvall himself has had two seasons marked by injury concerns.
– Our collaboration has been great. “Gurra” is probably the best teammate I’ve had in the form of a goalkeeper colleague. From my experience with injuries … the more I think about how “Gurra” has been … it is not easy then to be in that position to be positive and the bigger person. Especially when I’m the one playing. The way he has spurred me on and been a sounding board, I am so happy for him to win at his parent club in Skellefteå. You can see from the tears how long he has longed for this, says Linus Söderström.
“Different this time”
Skellefteå won its fourth SM gold, the first in exactly ten years and there have been four final losses since then.
– I am so incredibly happy for the sake of many here. There are many who haven’t won, there are many who have a hell of a lot of silver medals. The one that stands out a little extra for me is Jonathan Pudas who I played against in the final in 2017. He was in on the decisive goal and has now been the league’s best back for so many years now without getting that gold medal and now he is sitting there with the gold helmet. That’s what’s a little different this time too, I’m so incredibly happy for all the people around me in a way that I have trouble describing, says Linus Söderström.
For Skellefteå, it was also the first time they secured a SM gold on home soil.
